ETSU opens home schedule next weekend with Appalachian State and Tennessee Tech

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 18, 2012) – The road continued to be unkind for the No. 74 ETSU men’s tennis team on Saturday afternoon, as the Buccaneers dropped a 4-3 match to Middle Tennessee State University at the Nashboro Village Athletic Center.

The loss deflated ETSU’s record to 0-8, while MTSU moves to 4-3 on the young season.

“It’s mind boggling to feel like we’re making progress and to put out another disappointing performance,” Director of ETSU Tennis Yaser Zaatini said. “We have a core of scholar-athletes that know how to win, and I’m hoping at some point a sense of urgency enlightens us.

“I believe in this team and I know our senior class wants to go out on a higher note than what we’re experiencing right now.”

For this first time this year, ETSU pulled out the doubles point in three very tight sets. In the first completed match at No. 2 doubles, Yannick Born and Marlon Brand def. Juan Ramirez (Asuncion, Paraguay) and Jeremy Bonnevalle (Keerbergen, Belgium) 9-7. The Bucs responded with a 9-8 win by senior Sander Gille (Kuringen, Belgium) and Robin Akser (Ornskoldsvik, Sweden) at No. 1 doubles, and sealed their first doubles point of the season when Jesus Bandres (Caracas, Venezuela) and Jorge Varon (Valencia, Venzuela) defeated Matthew Langley and Ettore Zito 8-6.

Christopher Lang quickly got the Blue Raiders back to even in the match, defeating Ramirez in straight sets 6-2, 7-5 at No. 3 singles. Bonnevalle was the next to finish in the No. 4 match, and bounced back from his doubles loss to put the Bucs back ahead with a 7-6, 6-3 victory over Ettore Zito.

With the Bucs up 2-1 in the match, MTSU reeled off three straight matches to seal ETSU’s fate. Gille took Ben Davis to three sets in the No. 1 match, but fell 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 to the Blue Raiders' top singles player. Varon then surrendered a quick defeat to Forrest Edwards 6-2, 6-1, before MTSU clinched the match when Langley def. Bandres 7-6, 3-6, 7-5 at No. 2 singles to push the Blue Raiders’ record back over .500.

Sophomore Roger Ordeig (Gurb, Spain) ended the day with some consolation for the Bucs, defeating Born in a match tiebreak 6-4, 6-7, 10-5 and adjusting the final score to 4-3.

ETSU will look for better results within next weekend at the Bristol Racquet Club, when it opens up the home schedule with Appalachian State on Saturday and Tennessee Tech on Sunday.

For more information on ETSU tennis, please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the tennis links. Fans can also follow the Bucs on Twitter @ETSUAthletics, and visit the Bucs’ official Facebook page, ETSU Buccaneer Athletics.